Days to give flowers

Flowers are so beautiful that every single day should be a day to give flowers. But some days are so special that we've put together some interesting facts about them. They may inspire you to surprise someone with flowers. To find out more about them, click on the individual dates.

Fleurop & New Year: 1 January (fixed date)

For many years, the Ancient Romans celebrated New Year in the month of March. However, they moved the start of the year to 1 January in 153 BC when they fixed this as the date when the consuls would take office. Naturally, this only refers to the city of Rome; the year started on completely different dates in other parts of Europe (not to mention other parts of the world). 6 January, for example, which was observed as the beginning of the year in many parts of Europe. Or 25 March, the date decreed as the start of the year in 525 AD by the monk Dionysius Exiquus, who lived in Rome and is considered to be the founder of the Christian calendar. He chose it because the church celebrated the Annunciation of the Immaculate Conception to the Virgin Mary on that date. It was widely used in Germany until the 13th century, in Scotland until the 16th century and in England until the 18th century. In Russia, 1 September was considered to be the date of the New Year from the mid-13th century onwards (until 1701). And in England, Germany and Switzerland, the festival of New Year was celebrated on Christmas Day, 25 December, until the 16th century. It was not unknown for different dates for New Year to be used at the same time in some geographic regions. Pope Innocent XII first set 1 January as the first day of the year for the Christian world in 1691.

Fleurop & National Hug Day: 21 January (fixed date)

National Hug Day was inaugurated in 1986 by US-American pastor Kevin Zaborney. The idea was to hug family members, friends and close acquaintances often and give them human contact. Studies have shown that hugging enhances both psychological and physical development. According to scientists, hugging can help strengthen the immune system, reduce the risk of heart disease and lower levels of the stress hormone. Since its foundation, National Hug Day has been held regularly on 21 January, and has already become established in the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.

Fleurop & Valentine's Day: 14 February (fixed date)

Even the Ancient Romans were in love with love. They celebrated it in February for three days at a stretch. 14 February was dedicated to Juno, the Roman god of birth and marriage, and women who wanted a loving husband or children brought her sacrifices of flowers on that day. From 13 to 15 February, in contrast, the Lupercalia took place. This was the main festival of Faunus, the lascivious god of forests and cattle, who made people and animals fertile. During the Lupercalia, a love lottery was held in his honour: young men drew the name of a young single girl before the banquets. The couple would continue to meet thereafter, get to know each other better and perhaps even remain together.With the rise of Christianity, the church replaced the love lottery with a so-called saints lottery. In this, the name of a saint on which one was supposed to model oneself was drawn every day - and 14 February was dedicated to St Valentine. However, the love lottery was more popular (surprise, surprise). And so the name remained. Yet Valentine's Day is not celebrated to honour the saint but rather great, deep, passionate and joyous love.

Fleurop & the meteorological first day of spring: 1 March (fixed date)

In meteorology (to be more precise: according to the World Meteorological Organization, a specialised agency of the United Nations), the first day of spring is 1 March. In this science, the start of every season has been brought forward to the first of the relevant month, for practical reasons. It makes it easier to keep statistics (such as monthly averages) and make climate comparisons.

Fleurop & the Day of the Sick: first Sunday in March

The Day of the Sick was suggested by Swiss physician Dr Marthe Nicati in 1939. When she saw the way sick people in the tuberculosis clinics of Leysin were increasingly neglected by their friends and relatives as time went on, she dedicated a day to them and asked people to visit sick relatives and friends on the first Sunday in March at least. This idea was immediately seized on by the media. And so "Sick People's Sunday" has been well known in Switzerland since 1943.

Fleurop & International Women's Day: 8 March (fixed date)

To promote the demands of women in public, Clara Zetkin proposed the introduction of an International Women's Day at the 2nd International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. It was honoured for the first time in 1911, in Denmark, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Switzerland.However, it wasn't the first day of awareness of this kind. A National Women's Day had existed in the USA since 1909 as a result of a number of strikes by female textile workers who had protested against poor living conditions and unfair terms of employment. This day was always celebrated on the last Sunday in February and was themed around votes for women.But to return to the International Women's Day proposed by Clara Zetkin: it was originally observed on 19 March in Denmark, Germany, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland, while the USA kept its February date. In 1921, it was decided to celebrate it on the same day all over the world: 8 March.

Astronomical and calendar first day of spring: between 19 and 21 March

For astronomers, and therefore also by the calendar, spring begins with the spring equinox. This takes place when the sun - as seen from the Earth - crosses the celestial equator from south to north, which happens every year between 19 and 21 March. On average, there are 365 days, 5 hours and 49 minutes between two first days of spring, which means that each one starts slightly less than 6 hours later than the previous one. By the time 4 years have passed, the time has therefore shifted by 23 hours and 16 minutes. Fortunately, there is then always a leap year, which not only absorbs this difference but actually overcompensates for it with the additional day in February.Up to 2047, the astronomical first day of spring will always be on either 20 or 21 March. From 2048 onwards, it will fall on 19 March for the first time in the leap years.

Fleurop & the International Day of Happiness: 20 March (fixed date)

Could the first day of spring, which occurs round about this time, be the reason why the Day of Happiness was set on this date? It doesn't matter. At all events, the United Nations decided to create an International Day of Happiness in 2012 and this now takes place worldwide on 20 March. On its homepage, the United Nations says that lasting happiness does not come from what we consume, how we look or how much we earn. And that the world is rich with opportunities to be happy.Perhaps we will reflect on the meaning of happiness and well-being and also on what is going well for us, and consciously enjoy the happy moments in our lives.

The first day of spring as the basis of Easter dates: 21 March

Many schoolchildren learn that spring begins on 21 March. And this date was marked in the calendar for many years. Today, however, the astronomical first day of spring is used because 21 March was set as the fixed date for the start of spring by churchmen at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.At that time it was really about setting the date of Easter. Following that decision, Easter would always be on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the start of spring. Since, however, the astronomical first day of spring is variable and always has to be calculated, the first day of spring was set as 21 March for the purpose of calculating Easter dates to simplify matters.

Fleurop & Easter: between 22 March and 25 April

In Christianity, Easter is the annual celebration commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who, according to the New Testament, overcame death as the Son of God. The festival always takes place on the Sunday after the first full moon in spring, in other words on 22 March at the earliest or 25 April at the latest in the Gregorian calendar.The origin of "Ostern", the name commonly used in German, and the English "Easter" is a matter for debate. It could be of Old Germanic or Old English origin and be connected to the dawn (Old Germanic "austro", Old English "eostre") as a symbol of hope and resurrection. In contrast, many other languages, with terms such as "pâques", "pasqua" or "pasen", reveal a link to the Jewish Passover, the seven days in which Jesus's death and resurrection took place.

Fleurop & Siblings Day: 10 April (fixed date)

Siblings Day was founded in 1997 on the initiative of US American Claudia Evart. She lost both her siblings due to accidents at a very early age and realised the importance of the tie that links siblings during their entire lives and beyond. She therefore founded Siblings Day, choosing to mark it on her sister Lisette's birthday.Relationships between brothers and sisters may not always be peaceful and harmonious, particularly in younger years. Nevertheless, they normally realise their emotional bond sooner or later and are there for one another.

Fleurop & Mother's Day, Switzerland: second Sunday in May

Everyone talks about Anna Marie Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day, who strained every nerve to establish a day commemorating all mothers after the death of her own. But who was her mother? She had almost the same name as her daughter: Ann Maria Jarvis. She was the dynamic wife of a successful businessman and had eleven children. However, only four reached adulthood because the healthcare system was so poor in those days.Ann Maria Jarvis devoted her life to charitable causes and died on 9 May 1905. Around two years after her death, her daughter Anna Marie held a small memorial service for her mother in St. Andrew's Church; one year later a bigger, official ceremony took place. And subsequently Anna Marie Jarvis did everything in her power to ensure that the second Sunday in May would be universally recognised as "Mother's Day". She succeeded in the USA in 1914. Mother's Day arrived in the UK that same year and has also been well known in Switzerland since 1917. Today, Mother's Day is celebrated virtually all over the world, even though the dates sometimes differ from the second Sunday in May (see separate list below).

Fleurop & World Environment Day: 5 June (fixed date)

World Environment Day is a day of action celebrated on 5 June. It was officially announced by the United Nations Environment Programme on the first day of the global environmental summit in Stockholm in 1972.The idea behind it is that an intact environment cannot be taken for granted. Unfortunately, the diversity and health of nature is threatened by mankind itself to a large extent. It is high time to think about this. Because we are part of nature, we bear a huge responsibility.

Fleurop & International Kissing Day: 6 July (fixed date)

A warm and loving kiss is probably the most tender gesture that people can share. The British National Kissing Day was established to remind us of this fact. In 1990, it became International Kissing Day.The word is derived from the Middle and Old High German "kus", the Old English "cos" and the Old French "koss". Loving, yearning and fiery kisses are an elixir of life. No wonder, then, that the sleeping beauty of the fairy tale was awakened out of a hundred years of sleep by a prince's kiss. And no wonder that Kissing Day was "invented" for us. In other words, let's kiss!

Fleurop & Just Because Day: 27 August (fixed date)

Mostly, we do things because we have to or because people expect us to. Does it really always have to be that way? No, said some US-American women, and founded Just Because Day in 2005. This is the day we can escape from the treadmill of everyday routine, to some extent at least, and do something that occurs to us spontaneously - in other words, something we might not do otherwise.

International Positive Thinking Day: 13 September (fixed dateT

Brush aside negative thoughts and focus on the good things in life, even if it's on the thirteenth of a month. Maybe that's exactly why International Positive Thinking Day was set on 13 September!Anyway, studies prove that optimists not only live longer, but also lead healthier and happier lives. Reason enough to put on your rose coloured spectacles, look forward to the day with a positive attitude, surround yourself with optimistic people, be nice to yourself and to others, and believe that you will master the day with elan.

Fleurop & Thank You Day: last Thursday in September

The official Thank You Day is held on the last Thursday in September. It has been well known in the Anglo-Saxon countries for a long time, and in Switzerland and Germany since the early 1990s. It's linked to the earlier custom of Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals and is aimed at encouraging people to say "thank you": for example, to a mother for regular childcare services, the nice neighbour for watering the flowers, a best friend for her solidarity, etc.

Fleurop & Halloween: 31 October (fixed date)

The word Halloween comes from All Hallows' Eve, which is the night before All Saints' Day. However, the present custom of Halloween is probably rooted in the pre-Christian era. In the Celtic calendar, the beginning of the winter half of the year and the witches' New Year fell on 31 October. This meant that evil spirits and witches were flying through the air - or so they believed at least - and people protected themselves with ritual fire. At the same time, it was said that those who had died during the year came back to look for their bodies. People therefore disguised themselves and made a lot of noise to protect their bodies from the wandering souls of the dead.Today's trick-or-treat is a hybrid of these old traditions and a custom that was common in England and Ireland in the 9th century. It was called "souling". People went from door to door, sang a song and asked for "soul cakes" (small cakes with a cross on the top). For every soul cake that a person gave or received, a soul was released from purgatory. The custom arrived in America with immigrants. And from there - minus its religious background - it came to continental Europe, where going from door to door begging for sweets and the custom of making pumpkin lanterns is enjoying increasing popularity.

Fleurop & All Saints' Day: 1 November (fixed date)

All Saints' Day is an important festival of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches and is only known as a public holiday in Switzerland in the predominantly Catholic cantons. All Saints' Day should really be a day of remembrance for the saints. However, it is mostly known as the date on which people go to the cemetery and decorate the graves of relatives and friends. This is because 2 November is All Souls' Day and it was considered undesirable to have too many public holidays.

Fleurop & World Hello Day: 21 November (fixed date)

World Hello Day has been celebrated on 21 November every year since 1973. The idea behind this day is that communication would be a better means to force an end to conflicts.Hello (or allò, Hallo, hola etc.) is a word that means "greeting" in a number of languages and is itself also used as a greeting and to initiate contact. All manner of possible derivations are current. An unusual and not improbable one, however, is the assumption that the word is of Hungarian origin. When the first European telephone exchange, which was designed by the Hungarian scientist Tivadar Puskàs, was tested in Paris, it is said that the Hungarian words "hallom" (I hear) and "hallod" (can you hear?) were used very frequently. This ultimately became "allò" (which is still used as a greeting on the telephone in French today), and the same or a similar word in 30 languages. World Hello Day is now celebrated by people in more than 180 countries and supported by 31 Nobel peace laureates.

Fleurop & the first day of Advent: 4th Sunday before 25 December

The word Advent is of Latin origin. It means arrival and refers to the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Originally, the Advent period served to prepare for Christmas, and marriages, the ringing of bells and even merry music were prohibited during that time. Drumming and the blowing of trombones and trumpets were also taboo, because the church suspected that these things distracted people from essentials and disrupted reflection. To emphasise the solemnity of the occasion, people even fasted. However, the fast was not of equal duration in all locations. Because the date of the Christmas festivities was not universal, Advent in the Eastern churches lasted from 11 November to 6 January, while the West's ended on 25 December with varying starting dates. Our present-day Advent only lasts for an exact four Sundays because Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) fixed this length of time for the Western churches. By the way: if you work out the date of the first Sunday in Advent using the calendar, you CAN'T count 25 December even if it falls on a Sunday.

Fleurop & St Nicholas' Day: 6 December (fixed date)

Santa Claus makes his makes his big appearance on 6 December in some countries, and puts stars in children's eyes with apples, mandarins and nuts. This custom goes back to St Nicholas, who was Bishop of Myra. He was revered because he was said to have performed many miraculous deeds. Following his death in the 4th century, this reverence spread across the whole of Europe and gradually the present-day custom of Santa Claus asking children whether they have been good and bringing gifts for the good ones developed. At first, the old man kept his bishop's robes almost everywhere. From the mid-19th century onwards, he lost his episcopal attributes and appeared in a red-brown coat and pointed hat. The poem "The night before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore of New York had the greatest influence on Santa Claus as we know today, by describing him as a plump, jolly elf dressed in red and white[HER1] , with twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks and a snow-white beard.

Fleurop & Poinsettia Day: 12 December (fixed date)

People have celebrated "Poinsettia Day" in the USA for more than 150 years and surprise their loved ones on that day with a plant that is more symbolic of Christmas than any other.The date is derived from the anniversary of Joel Poinsett's death. When Poinsett went to Mexico as the first US ambassador in 1828 and saw the poinsettia there, he was so enthusiastic that he took it home with him to the USA, whence it has spread to large areas of the world. In honour of the diplomat and plant lover, the US Congress introduced Poinsettia Day in the middle of the 19th century.

Fleurop & Christmas: 25 December (fixed date)

A lot of Christians don't want to know this, but the date on which Christmas is celebrated actually goes back to the winter solstice, which - according to the Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar - took place on 25 December. This is why the Germanic peoples and others celebrated their Yule festival on this special date. The Ancient Romans also celebrated the birthday of their sun god Sol Invictus on this magical day from the late third century onwards. That remained the case after the birth of Christ because 25 December was not marked as a Christian holiday until 354 AD. When the Protestant reformers came along, however, they remembered the origin of the date and believed that the festival of Christmas also sprang from pagan custom. They therefore renounced it. It went so far that it was actually banned in Geneva and Scotland in the 16th century. A ban on the Christmas festival was also pronounced in England in 1647: there, however, it was because such celebrations were often accompanied by drunkenness. Although this prohibition no longer applied after 1660, Christmas did not return to popularity in England until the 19th century. The situation was similar in the USA. There was no Christmas festival until the 19th century in areas where Presbyterians, Mennonites, Puritans and Quakers still live to this day. However, these Christian sects ultimately came round to it - the European Protestants actually took to it so much that they introduced the Advent wreath and the Christmas tree. These were initially considered to be Protestant things and were only adopted gradually by the Catholics.

Fleurop & New Year's Eve: 31 December (fixed date)

In some European languages, 31 December is not known as New Year's Eve but by a variant of the name of Pope Sylvester I, because it is the anniversary of his death according to the Roman Catholic calendar of saints.The last day of the year is known as Silvester in German, Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre in French, Notte di San Silvestro in Italian, Silvesteravond in Dutch, Sylwester in Polish, Silvester in Slovakian and Silvestr in Czech. Other languages know it as "Old Year's Eve".